What do I do with this pot roast?

Question

I am thawing out a 4.12 lb pot roast for family of 3. I am pretty sure this is way too much for just us, should I cook the entire thing then cut in half and freeze or should I only cook half and re-freeze the other for another meal? What are the rules for re-freezing meat??

Answer 1

Four pounds is not a big roast. Just cook the whole thing and you can eat pot roast for the next two or three days. It's always better the 2nd day anyway.

Answer 2

After meat is thawed, it can be frozen again only if cooked. So I'd cook the whole thing (it WILL shrink up) and freeze half of it for a quick supper another night.

Try this recipe. You can put the roast in still half-frozen, if you like.


Easy Crockpot Beef Roast

1 chuck or rump Beef Roast (sized for your crockpot)
1/2 Cup of Water
1 Packet of Ranch Dressing Mix
1 Packet of Italian Dressing Mix
1 Packet of Brown Gravy Mix

Put roast in crockpot, pour water around the base. Sprinkle all 3 dry seasoning packets over roast. Cover and cook for 6-7 hours on low. Remove roast to cutting board and let sit 15 minutes; slice thinly across the grain (electric knife works best).

Answer 3

I'd cook the whole thing. If you cut it in half, you only have 2 pounds which can get sorta dry when cooking it. You can refreeze the cooked meat (with or without some of the au jus) to enjoy later. Or keep the cooked roast in the fridge and use for sandwiches or salad topper or quick stroganoff or beef and noodles or soup or bbq or...lots of other ways.

The rules for refreezing meat are that raw meats (and poultry) should not be refrozen, but they're fine to be frozen after they've been cooked.

Answer 4

generally, the rule is "if it's thawed it should not be refrozen"

I have a suggestion. cook the pot roast-with sides equal to the roast. put the left overs in plastic partitioned seal-able plates and freeze. we call them TV dinners. that way we have a good home cooked meal that we can take out of the freezer and pop in the microwave and not have to cook. If you do this a few times you can even have different meals. one has pot roast one can have pork chops, etc.

Answer 5

It's not that big,when you cook it it's gonna shrink a little in size,once you have veg.s and make gravy you'll probably have leftovers which you enjoy later.Put any leftovers in a covered container in fridge. You can freeze the meat once it is cooked,never thaw out any kind of meat and then refreeze it.With out cooking.

Answer 6

Cook the whole thing! Stick it in your crock pot with a package of dry onion soup mix, a few carrots, cellery, potatos, onion, and some water and let it cook all day. After you've had your main meal and maybe a sandwich or two, then you can cube the leftovers for a rustic roastbeef hash or serve them in a rich gravey over baked potatos.

Answer 7

first of all cook the whole thing. If your family doesent eat it all it freezes beautifully. salt,pepper,garlic powder and onion powder it. Then heat up a pan on the stove and cook it to sear in the flavor for 15- 20 minutes. put it on the bottom of a crock pot or dutch oven. use 1 pkg of lipton onion soup mix- strain it (u dont want the dehydrated onions). andd carrots,onions if u like. cook for 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 on low. Make mashed potatoes with it. when u cube up the potatoes put 2 cloves of garlic cut in half in the water- then salt. when u mix use milk, lots of butter ,sour cream(2 tbsp),If u want i tbsp cream cheese(yummmm). i find my family likes it WAY better than adding potatoes to the pot. need more recipies? [e-mail] im a foodie, love "down home" cooking - would love to share with someone who enjoys it as well! good luck!

Answer 8

Never refreeze meat once thawed you will get deathly sick and meat does expire once put into the fridge raw and should be eaten within the next 2 days. You can do lots with left overs!

Answer 9

Cook all, serve half and make pot roast samwiches with honey mustard and onion the next day. Good luck!

Answer 10

NEVER defrost and refreeze meat! cook the whole thing.. you can always make a meat pie or a shepard pie out of it for another meal for you and you family..